This week, one of the Intensive Care Registrars popped his head into the CCU to check up on a patient he'd been asked to see overnight. Luckily, they'd been well enough to avoid transfer to his unit. The patient's story was interesting enough to keep the ICU reg, well, interested, and he's the kind of compassionate fellow to actually follow up on consults.

In addition to his obvious empathy, one thing struck me about this Registrar. He had a textbook in the crook of his arm. Not the typical ICU fodder, nor a voluminous tome such as Harrison's latest offering. No, he had Guyton & Hall's Physiology, firmly within his grasp.

Somewhat surprised, I asked if he was sitting exams soon. "No," he replied, patting the red spine gently, "it's just that I like to stay on top of this stuff." He finished his observations and trotted off to the ICU.

I think every Pre-clinical Med student wishes for the day their textbooks are permanently burned into their brains, knowledge available for instant recall. Similarly, the clinical years instill in you a sense of simplicity through structure - all that basic, history based stuff. It's easy to draw the dots between chest pain and myocardial infarct. Dredging out first-year physiology, engineer-style, to explain symptoms and progression is another string to the bow.

The reg, unspeakingly, reminded me the books we use, at every level, remain relevant in every clinical context. That's why it's called life-long learning.